Edible weeds and plants.

[starlingqueen]

OK, there are so many edible weeds and plants that I thought I would start a thread on what is available. If you have a plant/weed that you are curious about or not sure if it's the right one etc, take a photo of it, preferably whilst still in the ground, and I will do my best to identify it and say if it's ok to feed to your buds. Or if you have a patch of weeds take a picture and I will see if there are any edible ones amongst them. I can't promise I will know all of them but I have friends I can ask too. I may have trouble with species not native to the UK.

Here are some common plants that you may know to get you started. I don't have my usual laptop as it's in for repair so I will post links to google images. for now. The picture you need to look at is the large one on the black background.

plantain, there are a few types, Broad leaf and slender are the common ones

Broad leaf

www.google.co.uk/search?q=Plantain&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=8VJ&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=5bxnUqCrOaOy0QWR0IDYCA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=444#facrc=_&imgdii=9dyWSfP320BKIM%3A%3B5I8JoDwcgwlTOM%3B9dyWSfP320BKIM%3A&imgrc=9dyWSfP320BKIM%3A%3BOndn0_JwXMbyEM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.redmoonherbs.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2012%252F04%252FFinal-plantain.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.redmoonherbs.com%252F2012%252F04%252Fplentiful-plantain-on-sale%252F%3B361%3B308

Slender
www.google.co.uk/search?q=Plantain&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=8VJ&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=5bxnUqCrOaOy0QWR0IDYCA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=444#facrc=_&imgdii=9dyWSfP320BKIM%3A%3BxNVaBmm6tktAIM%3B9dyWSfP320BKIM%3A&imgrc=9dyWSfP320BKIM%3A%3BOndn0_JwXMbyEM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.redmoonherbs.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2012%252F04%252FFinal-plantain.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.redmoonherbs.com%252F2012%252F04%252Fplentiful-plantain-on-sale%252F%3B361%3B308

Pansies and viola

Viola are just miniature pansies, you can also find wild violets. Leaves and flowers can be fed.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=pansies+pictures&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=7He&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=g75nUomMAuSr0AWK5oGwCw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=444#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=_lIQdpiskjvlsM%3A%3BoKunWy_q7lvHQM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.almanac.com%252Fsites%252Fnew.almanac.com%252Ffiles%252Fpansies.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.almanac.com%252Fplant%252Fpansies%3B400%3B300

Rose hips are full of vit c so one a week is plenty.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=rose+hips&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=hMe&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=n79nUpWxLoqN7AaxuYDQCQ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=444#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=bW0PY6mHzgoEgM%3A%3BaKEPPzHB7KS7-M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.urban-witch.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2012%252F09%252Frose-hips-11.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.urban-witch.com%252Fautumnal-equinox%252Frose-hips-1-2%252F%3B400%3B300

Nasturtium is an easily grown plant with a peppery taste both flowers and leaves can be fed.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=nasturtium&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=AOe&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=-r9nUqqPNumQ1AWut4CYDg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=444#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=9pOq7bGwwFwskM%3A%3Brb1thdLdKno5nM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F0.tqn.com%252Fd%252Fcontainergardening%252F1%252F7%252F3%252F2%252F-%252F-%252FnasturtiumsIrLG.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fcontainergardening.about.com%252Fod%252Fphotogallery%252Fig%252FGreat-container-Gardens%252FNasturtiums.htm%3B500%3B500

Sedum also known as Ice plant, common in many gardens.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=sedum&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=IQe&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=fsBnUrn2BOPX0QWCsIDICA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=OVOUnw8SJhuFxM%3A%3BMVBnGXaoU71yXM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fupload.wikimedia.org%252Fwikipedia%252Fcommons%252Fa%252Fa4%252FSedum_spectabile_3.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fcommons.wikimedia.org%252Fwiki%252FFile%253ASedum_spectabile_3.jpg%3B2816%3B1783

Snap dragon or antirrhinum, flowers and leaves can be fed. A common garden plant.
www.google.co.uk/search?q=Antirrhinum&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=0sJ&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=b8JnUvq6L-O80QXziIG4DQ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=444#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=7Sa0dVEZTPFFuM%3A%3BoArKLRfZlNzoIM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwebassets.rhs.org.uk%252Fcontent%252FMedia%252FImages%252FPlants%252FAntirrhinumMajusCoronetteCherry_L%253Fwidth%253D510%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.rhs.org.uk%252FChildren%252FFor-families%252FPlants-to-grow-with-kids%252FAntirrhinum%3B510%3B340

I'll leave it there for now. If you have any pictures that need identifying please feel free to post them. I will add more plants at intervals hopefully with pictures.

[starlingqueen]

Thought I had better add the disclaimer bit. Please only gather food for any animal from known areas that have not been treated with any form of pest control and well away from roads. I can not take responsibility for any bird who becomes ill after eating any of the food I recommend. My birds have been eating them for years with no ill effects.

[kikkinu]

Wow thanks for taking the time to prepare this SQ

[birdguhl]

This is really good. I would love to get into this but I guess it will mostly have to wait til spring. Thanks, SQ!

Oh, did you say that you also grow some plants specially for your birds? Do you do that indoors? Sorry for my rubbish memory but was it you that grew millet? I don't have a garden but have loads of plants indoors (although not in conservatory conditions). Someone on another thread had a pot of lemongrass growing. I thought that was interesting.

[starlingqueen]

Oct 23, 2013 23:44:06 GMT birdguhl said:

This is really good. I would love to get into this but I guess it will mostly have to wait til spring. Thanks, SQ!

Oh, did you say that you also grow some plants specially for your birds? Do you do that indoors? Sorry for my rubbish memory but was it you that grew millet? I don't have a garden but have loads of plants indoors (although not in conservatory conditions). Someone on another thread had a pot of lemongrass growing. I thought that was interesting.

Yes I did grow Millet. You can grow many herbs on your window sill. It's not too late to look for Plantain, pansies and violas are winter flowers so you can buy them in garden centers now. Also the Sedums are evergreen so always available and you can probably grow Nasturtiums in pots in the house, they grow really easily from seed.

[samwiseg]

Good post! Thanks for sharing

[starlingqueen]

Here are some more plants for our buds to eat commonly found in the home or garden. if you think you have found one of these plants please don't forget to take a picture and let me see if you are not 100% sure.

African Violets.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=African+violet&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=yXi&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=CmtqUubxLIXP0AWeiYCAAg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=444#facrc=0%3Bafrican%20violet%20plant&imgdii=_&imgrc=_

Campanula or Canterbury bell.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=campanula&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=QAO&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=V29qUrCbJYKM0wXJyoHICQ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=444#facrc=_&imgdii=-07oAaGB53hUtM%3A%3BNwW25T65b7TR7M%3B-07oAaGB53hUtM%3A&imgrc=-07oAaGB53hUtM%3A%3BI6Cid9axTW4bCM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fupload.wikimedia.org%252Fwikipedia%252Fcommons%252F0%252F0e%252FCampanula_portenschlagiana_A.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fen.wikipedia.org%252Fwiki%252FCampanula_portenschlagiana%3B3872%3B2592

Coleus or flame nettle.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=Coleus&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=iX3&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=_W9qUvDvIqnB0gWRqID4Bw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=444#facrc=_&imgdii=DahhK07JLCUPbM%3A%3B9ZuZGTTHJ9h-nM%3BDahhK07JLCUPbM%3A&imgrc=DahhK07JLCUPbM%3A%3BWOM7MVv8eftA1M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fphotography.nationalgeographic.com%252Fstaticfiles%252FNGS%252FShared%252FStaticFiles%252FPhotography%252FImages%252FContent%252Fcoleus-close-up-401005-sw.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fphotography.nationalgeographic.com%252Fphotography%252Fenlarge%252Fcoleus-close-up-photography.html%3B800%3B600

Cone flower or Echinacea All parts of this plant can be eaten and has medicinal properties and supports the immune system.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=cone+flower&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=PGO&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ynBqUva-AqHC0QWpoICYCA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=444#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=hYq7jaVmm9IBsM%3A%3B93CV873zcPuuiM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.mountainvalleygrowers.com%252Fimages%252Fechpurpureaingarden.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.mountainvalleygrowers.com%252Fechpurpurea.htm%3B400%3B300

Dahlia, this is a common garden plant and is in flower right through the autumn until the first frosts. It has many different flower shapes, some double pom pom shaped flowers and some are single daisy like and everything in between.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=dahlia&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=Bi3&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=hnJqUpzkLKn50gXjqYDACQ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=JOtif1r48s3voM%3A%3BFuu30OwLLhxiLM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.thompson-morgan.com%252Fmedias%252Fsys_tandm%252F8821271986206.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.thompson-morgan.com%252Fflowers%252Fflower-plants%252Fannual-plants%252Fdahlia-figaro-mixed%252Ft16166TM%3B1000%3B1000

[kikkinu]

awesome, my buds will be turning multicolored soon with all this stuff!!